UGA predicts no new HOPE aid

By Morris News Service

ATHENS, Ga. - A proposed tuition increase for the state's research universities - including the University of Georgia - would likely not be covered by the HOPE scholarship, according to UGA's top academic official.

The Board of Regents votes on general tuition fees for the state's 34 colleges and universities every April. UGA President Michael Adams has publicly lobbied in favor of "differential" - or additional - tuition increases for the state's research universities and for UGA's professional schools and colleges.

The increases, if approved, would be implemented for the coming academic year. But the differential tuition increase for the research universities, namely UGA, Georgia Tech and Georgia State, would likely not be covered by HOPE, the state's lottery-funded scholarship program, said UGA Provost Arnett Mace.

"(State Budget Office Director Bill Tomlinson) has projected the costs of HOPE to exceed the revenues being generated in '05 or '06," Dr. Mace said. "On the research institution differential, we know that to include that in HOPE would in all probability not be considered."

Many UGA students disapprove of a pending tuition increase, but administrators say increased revenue is essential to offset two years of damaging budget cuts.

The proposal for the additional tuition increases, which must be approved by the regents, is not finalized, Dr. Mace said.

UGA's budget is $40 million less than it was two years ago, and Dr. Mace said that if Gov. Sonny Perdue's taxes on alcohol and tobacco do not pass, and if tuition increases are not approved, the university will be not be able to offer a sufficient number of course sections.